Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHSG’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHSG’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong and sturdy stems; dark green-colored leaves; freely and remontant flowering habit with numerous panicles per plant; showy lacecap inflorescences with purplish red-colored sterile flowers that when “blued” are purple in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea serrata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMNHSG’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea serrata, commonly referred to as Mountain Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘SMNHSG’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new freely and remontant flowering Hydrangea plants with strong stems and attractive lacecap inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination during the summer of 2016 of Hydrangea serrata ‘MAK20’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,820, as the female, or seed parent and Hydrangea serrata ‘Dariya’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. during the summer of 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since the summer of 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNHSG’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNHSG’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Strong and sturdy stems.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and remontant flowering habit with numerous panicles         per plant.     -   6. Showy lacecap inflorescences with purplish red-colored         sterile flowers that when “blued” are purple in color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of the female parent, ‘MAK20’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea have smaller         sepals than sterile flowers of plants of ‘MAK20’.     -   2. Sepals of sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are         more intense purplish red in color than sepals of sterile         flowers of plants of ‘MAK20’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ from plants of the male parent, ‘Dariya’, primarily in plant habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are more uniformly mounded than plants of ‘Dariya’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangea hybrida ‘SMNMAKTSR’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,672. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differed primarily from plants of ‘SMNMAKTSR’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea have larger         sepals than sterile flowers of plants of ‘SMNMAKTSR’.     -   2. Sepals of sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are         purplish red in color whereas sepals of sterile flowers of         plants of ‘SMNMAKTSR’ are darker and more reddish pink in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have a more freely and remontant         flowering habit than plants of ‘SMNMAKTSR’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘SMNHSG’ growing in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical fully developed inflorescence of ‘SMNHSG’ that has not been “blued”.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3 ) is a close-up view of a typical fully developed inflorescence of ‘SMNHSG’ that has been “blued”.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the following description were grown during the summer in three-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 10° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were three years old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea can be successfully treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea serrata ‘SMNHSG’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea serrata ‘MAK20’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,820.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Hydrangea serrata ‘Dariya’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 30 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness to thick; fibrous and             fleshy; typically white in color, actual color of the roots             is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely to moderately freely branching; medium             density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial deciduous shrub;             upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; broad and             uniformly mounded inverted triangle; strong and sturdy             lateral branches; freely branching habit with about 40             lateral branches developing per plant; moderately vigorous             growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 60 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Internode length: About 6 cm. Texture: Initially, slightly             pubescent and becoming smooth and glabrous with development.             Strength: Strong, sturdy. Aspect: About 45° to 70° from             vertical. Color: Close to 144B distally tinged with close to             176A; when woody, close to N200A; lenticels, close to 200B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm to 11 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm to 8 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, rugose,             coriaceous; prominent venation on lower surface.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A;             occasionally towards the apex, tinged with close to 200A to             200B; venation, close to 144B tinged with close to 176A.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 144B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 144B tinged with close to 176A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 144B. -   Inflorescence & flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single sterile and fertile flowers             arranged on relatively flat lacecap umbels; flowers face             upright to somewhat outwardly depending on position on the             umbel.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous and remontant flowering             habit from June to August in Grand Haven, Mich.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 200 to             300 fertile flowers and about eight to ten sterile flowers             develop per inflorescence.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8 cm.         -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 5 mm.         -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 144D.         -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 144D.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Arrangement: About five to nine in             one to two whorls. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 62B;             when “blued”, close to 98A. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 62B; when “blued”, close to 98A.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Arrangement: About five to seven in             a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 62B;             when “blued”, close to 98A. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 62B; when “blued”, close to 98A.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity per flower: Five fused at             the base in a single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About             1 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144D; when             “blued”, close to 144D. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144D; when “blued”, close to 144D.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity per flower: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cordate. Margin: Serrulate             to entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly             rugose, glabrous with pronounced midvein on lower surface.             Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 144D and             distally, close to 63A; when “blued”, close to 144D and             distally, close to N82A to N82B. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 144D and distally, close to 63C; when             “blued”, close to 144D and distally, close to 84C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 63B; when “blued”, close to             N82A to N82B; color does not change with subsequent             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 63D; when             “blued”, close to 84C; color does not change with subsequent             development.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Angle: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             63C; when “blued”, close to 90A.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter:             About 2 mm. Angle: About 30° from peduncle axis. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close             to 63C; when “blued”, close to 90A and proximally, close to             83A.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About twelve. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament             color: Close to 70B; when “blued”, close to 98A. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color:             Close to N77B; when “blued”, close to 98A. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to N155A. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3 mm. Stigma             shape: Three to four-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 64B; when             “blued”, close to 94A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style             color: Close to 64B; when “blued”, close to 94A.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament             color: Close to 70B; when “blued”, close to 98A. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color:             Close to N77B; when “blued”, close to 98A. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to N155A. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 2 mm. Stigma             shape: Three-lobed. Stigma color: Close to 64B; when             “blued”, close to 94A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style             color: Close to 64B; when “blued”, close to 94A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Hydrangea     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Hydrangea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed     to have good garden performance by exhibiting good tolerance to rain     and wind and to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −25° C. to     about 37° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘SMNHSG’ as illustrated and described. 